"So, Mahabharata?" Mahamaya asked excitedly.

Mahabharata is the longest epic in the world and it's a historical text which describes the biggest war in history, the Mahabharata.

The story was first called as Jaya, which means victory. Then, the name changed to BhArata because it dictated the story of BhArata, India.

Later, when Bharata was compared to the other works of Ved Vyas Ji (writer of Mahabharata and compiler of the Vedas), even the compilation of the Vedas, it was declared that Bharata is above them all. That's why, it became MahAbhArata, or the great Bharata.

Reading this text gives the idea of what Dharma (righteousness) actually is because every type of relation and circumstances possible are shown in this great text.

Mahesh nodded. Mahamaya squealed like a little girl as Indrayani shook her head, highly amused.

"So, the five brothers, the PAndavAs had one same wife, Princess of PAnchal and daughter of Drupad, Draupadi. They had a system, that only one brother can go in her room throughout the year and the others are not allowed. If they entered, they will have to go on an exile of twelve years," Mahesh had started the story.

"Did anyone have to go to the exile?" Mahamaya asked, intrigued.

Mahesh nodded and continued, "One day, a Brahmin came to him and said that some robbers had stolen all his money, but Arjuna's great GAndiva bow was in Draupadi's room. So, the great archer went there and fetched the bow and went with the Brahmin."

Mahamaya's forehead creased as she muttered, "That's not a fair reason to exile him."

Mahesh smiled and said, "He came back and requested to be exiled, even though the eldest brother Yudhishthira said that it was not necessary but Arjuna wanted to honour their promise as brothers, so he agreed to go."

Mahamaya asked, "It must have helped them in some way? That's why fate did it, didn't it?"

Mahesh smiled and nodded, "Yes, he married Princesses Ulupi, ChitrAngadA and SubhadrA. Subhadra was sister of Sri KrishnA, so his relations with Sri Krishna deepened and Sri Krishna helped them win the Mahabharata while the other Kingdoms helped by sending their army in the favour of the Pandavas. He also had children from the Princesses."

Mahamaya asked, "Do you know their names and what happened with them?"

Mahesh nodded and said, "The great warrior Abhimanyu was son of Subhadra and nephew of Sri Krishna. Iravan was son of Ulupi and BabhruvAhan was son of Chitrangada."

Mahamaya couldn't help but mutter, "Iravan..."

Mahesh explained, "There are two versions of him. In one, which is the folk lores, he's the husband of all the transgenders in India. To start the war, they needed a Prince to be sacrificed. Every Prince wanted to fight and not get sacrificed. Iravan said that he will sacrifice if he is married."

Indrayani asked, "Who will marry someone who will die the next day?"

Mahesh smiled and asked, "Who else do you think, if not the LeelSdhar (one who carries out divine plays, meaning Sri Krishna) himself? He took the form of Mohini and married him. The next day, when he was sacrificed, what followed was a heartfelt ceremony where she wiped away her sindoor, broke her nuptial chain and her bangles and cried for the whole day."

Mahamaya asked, "And why do transgenders follow this?"

Mahesh answered, "Because who else are men but are also women? Sri Krishna was a man who became Mohini, a woman. The answer is, transgenders. That's why, they marry Iravan once a year and the next day, they mourn his death."

Mahamaya mumbled, "That's disturbing. So, does Dharma say that human sacrifice is okay?"

Mahesh shook his head no, "Iravan was a great warrior. They can't afford losing such a warrior. Mahabharata, the actual historical text of that time says that he did fight and kill many prominent warriors. He was killed during the war, like the other sons of PAndavAs."

Indrayani sighed and mumbled, "Yeah, that makes more sense."

Mahesh laughed and said, "Folk lores related to Mahabharata are interesting and disturbing. There are more things in the folk lores."

Mahamaya asked excitedly, "Like what? What?"

Mahesh said, "Like the Pandavas having to eat their dead father, PAndu's brain pieces?"

Indrayani grumbled, "No, stop, that's gross."

Both the father daughter duo laughed at her predicament, making her pout and mumble, "Yeah yeah, you two team up against me. After all, who will love an old hag like me?"

Both of them said simultaneously, "Me, of course," making the three of them to burst out laughing as they travelled on their way.

"So, you won't tell me about Bubhrubhavan?" Mahamaya asked.

"I said stopppppp," Indrayani closed her ears, making both of them laugh again.

"It's not that bad," Mahesh said, getting serious.

"Okay, tell," Indrayani said, pouting.

"You look so cute. I wish I could pinch your cheek right now," Mahesh pouted too, making Mahamaya laugh in amusement and pinch both of their cheeks.

Everyone laughed at that. Mahamaya liked going to village because of this same experience of the journey.

"Bubhrubhavannnnn," Mahamaya whined as she pouted too, making everyone laugh again.

Mahesh started talking, "Alright alright haha. So, he was son of Princess ChitrAngadA. For various generations, her Kingdom didn't have more than one heir so his father assumed she would be the only heir too and trained her in warfare, politics, law and other fields. Arjuna fell in love with her honesty and courage. He married her and left after Bubhrubhavan was born."

Mahamaya muttered, "Well, that was rude of him."

Mahesh laughed and said, "Yes, neither Ulupi nor Chitrangada stayed with him, because Ulupi had asked just for a baby. She didn't wish for commitment and when Iravan wanted to participate in the war and help his father, she left the choice on him. Chitrangada, however was luckier and was proposed by Arjuna, yet he had to go because his exile period was about to get over. She couldn't go because she had to nurture and bring up their son. After the war of Mahabharata ended though, both Ulupi and Chitrangada came to stay with their husband. The period before that was maybe just not optimal for the stay of Princesses. Maybe that's another reason why he didn't take them with himself but invited them when everything was okay. In the end, Chitrangada's son Bubhrubhavan ended up in taking care of his Kingdom while his mother stayed with her husband."

Mahamaya looked at her father, "Why do you know all this?"

Mahesh smiled and replied, "Because I'm an avid reader and I tried reading Mahabharata time and again but failed. Later, I understood that the book is huge and I have to keep it consistent with smaller goals or I'll get bored. So, everyday after bathing, I used to join my hands in front of God and read one chapter of Mahabharata daily. When you have to be consistent, remember to attach the work with something you do daily, like I did with bathing."

Mahamaya nodded while Indrayani looked like she had hearts in her eyes. She kept thanking her fate for getting her married to this man. He was always perfect, almost in every way, but too good for today's age, so she tried to help him with that. Mahamaya was like him too and she wished that she would get someone good to support her and not misuse her goodness.

Mahamaya was not to be manipulated but she forgave too easily and was too eager to help. One should forgive but not forget, or they would have to wander from forest to forest like the five Pandavas did because of Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava...

******
A/N:
So yeah, same view, it's a folklore and it doesn't make sense but yeah, it gave rise to a festival for the transgenders and yes, the lores are disturbing as well as interesting.

Another thing is, only those with terminal illnesses who are having lots of pain living or very old people on the brink of death are the ones who are normally sacrificed, like an euthanasia. I love the folk lores by the way, maybe because they are disturbing 😂. Have fun reading.

I don't want to hurt anybody from the Draupadi Kula but these are my thoughts and this is my story which I built on my thoughts and opinions, and a little bit of creative liberty.